GROUND FLOOR. 
31 
under suitable regulations. The gallery contains stuffed 
examples and skeletons of all the most remarkable members 
of the class, the peculiarities of which will be pointed out in 
a special guide-book which will shortly be jDublished. 
The largest specimen of the class, placed near the centre of 
the room, is a full-grown example of the Great Basking Shark 
(Selache maxima) which was captured on the 2nd of March, 
1875, near Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. Its length is twenty- 
eight feet, but as the minute size of the teeth indicate, it is a 1| 
comparatively harmless animal. 
On the east side of the room (left on entering) will be foimd 
the other Sharks and their allies, the Kays and Skates, including 
the singular " Hammer Headed " Shark and the Saw-fish (Fristis) 
which has a long projecting flattened snout, with a row of teeth 
arranged something like those of a sav/ on each side. In the 
middle of the further end of the room is a large specimen of one 
of the most remarkable of fish, at least in external form, the 
Sun-fish (OrtJiagoriscus mola). In the wall-cases of the right ^ 
hand (or east side) of the gallery are the fishes with completely ■ 
osseous skeletons. The largest of these, including several speci- 
mens of Sword-fishes, the gigantic Sea-Perch {Serranus gigas) 
and others, are placed in separate glazed cases in the body of 
the room. 
II. A small gallery is devoted to the group of Articulata 
or Invertebrated animals with jointed limbs, as Insects, Spiders, 
Myriapods, and Crustacea. In the wall-cases are many curious 
examples of nests, and of specimens illustrating the ravages of 
destructive insects, and also some of their economic products Insect Gallery. 
Selected examples of the different groups of insects are exhibited 
in systematic order in the table-cases, so as to give the visitor 
who studies them a good general idea of all the most interesting 
forms and of their classification. Unfortunately, it is impossible 
to exhibit many of the most beautiful and rare species, owing to 
the deteriorating effects of continued exposure to light upon 
their colours. The main collection of insects is, on this account, 
and because of the enormous space it would otherwise occupy, 
kept in cabinets in the " insect-room " on the basement floor, to 
which students can have access under the regulations which 
will be found at the end of this guide. 
